Turmoil At Villa After Chief Executive Resigns - 21/05/2005

Disgruntled Villa fans are calling for an emergency general meeting to probe the shock resignation of chief executive Bruce Langham. Even if such a meeting was called, it would be unlikely to challenge the position of 33 per cent shareholder 'Deadly' Doug Ellis who has ruled the club with a financial rod of iron. Langham quit just twelve months after taking over the role which Doug Ellis had previously combined with that of chairman. Langham had been full of optimism in recent weeks about the future after devising a three year plan to take the club forward which included investment in the squad and upgrading facilities at the Bodymoor Heath training complex. But he has decided to go over what a club spokesman described as 'a difference of opinion over the strategy of the way the club is going forward.' Despite the team's indifferent performance on the pitch, shares in Villa have been hitting a 52-week high and the club has outperformed the FTSE All-Share Index by 17 per cent over the year. In part this is a 'halo' effect resulting from the protracted takeover of Manchester United. However, the club is debt free and has been called a 'sleeping giant' so often for so long that questions are being asked about whether it is comatose. As the leading regional club in the Midlands, there must be scope for taking it further on and off the pitch. The question is when, rather than whether, the 81 year old Mr Ellis will relinquish control.